Wrexham AFC appoint Populous for design of New Kop Stand

Wrexham AFC have appointed Populous as its architect to create a masterplan for the club’s STōK Cae Ras stadium, with initial focus on the redesign of the new 5,500 capacity Kop stand.

The new Kop stand, which will include provision for safe standing, hospitality and accessible seating, will be a focal point for the stadium and a destination for fans and the local community, on both matchdays and non-matchdays. It will be fully compliant with UEFA Category Four stadium requirements and will be completed in time for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final tournament in 2026.

Populous’ appointment comes after a pause and review of the existing plans for the Kop and following a full tender process.

Commenting on the announcement, Michael Williamson, Wrexham AFC Chief Executive Officer, said:

We are determined to ensure the new Kop stand and the future vision of the STōK Cae Ras satisfies the needs and expectations of our fans and the local community, and the appointment of Populous as architect for the redesign reflects that.

We appreciate the efforts of those who have worked on this project to date, allowing us to now focus our attention on the activation of areas within the new stand, while remaining consistent with the capacity and volume that was previously presented.

We look forward to engaging with fans and the local community as plans and designs for the stand take shape, along with other stakeholders and strategic partners including Wrexham County Borough Council, our Wrexham Gateway partners, Wrexham University, the Welsh Government, and the FA of Wales. This is an exciting time for the Club, our supporters and the City as we continue our upward momentum.

Declan Sharkey, Global Director & Senior Principal at Populous, was one of some 60+ high-level speakers at the 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition for which Populous was a sponsor. Declan’s talk “Enhancing Your Fan Experience & Raising Revenue Through Experiential Design” will be available to download later this week.

Declan Sharkey, Global Director and Senior Principal at Populous, said:

Our aim is to create a home for Wrexham’s passionate fans and the community that pays tribute to the heritage and traditions of the Club and the City itself. The Kop stand will be the epicentre of the atmosphere at the ground on matchday, while incorporating enhanced facilities that can be used every day throughout the year.

Sharkey added:

We’re extremely proud to be appointed to work on the new Kop stand and to explore the potential for a wider vision and masterplan for the future STōK Cae Ras. Our aim is to create a home for Wrexham’s passionate fans and the community that pays tribute to the heritage and traditions of the Club and the City itself. The Kop stand will be the epicentre of the atmosphere at the ground on matchday, while incorporating enhanced facilities that can be used every day throughout the year.

The STōK Cae Ras is the world’s oldest international football stadium still in continuous use, having hosted Wales’ first ever international home game against Scotland on March 5, 1877. The stadium’s history can be traced back much further, however – with horse racing recorded at the Racecourse possibly even 400 years ago. Used for multiple sports throughout its history, Wrexham played their first ever match at the ground in October 1864, and the Club has played there almost ever since – only moving for a brief two-year period between 1881-1883.

Source & imagery, courtesy: Populous

Sports Venue Business launched the SVB LIVE series of events in 2023, featuring Global Networking Events & Webinars, and the SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition. The 2024 edition was held at Croke Park, with opening night at Aviva Stadium. Some 240 high-level execs from across the global sports and entertainment sector were in attendance.